Swanigan is one of the front runners for Big Ten Player of the Year. The 6-foot-9 sophomore is averaging 18.8 points and 12.9 rebounds per game. His rebounding numbers make him the second-best rebounder in the nation, behind only Seton Hall’s Angel Delgado.

Bridges, meanwhile, is having himself an outstanding freshman season at Michigan State. He is averaging 16.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

The 2016-17 season will be just the third for the Malone Award. Louisville’s Montrezl Harell and Iowa State’s Georges Niang are the previous winners.